Lincoln City were forced to settle for a second successive goal-less draw in the league at Sincil Bank as they were held by Harry Kewell’s Crawley Town.

In frustrating, stop-start game, the Imps felt they should have had penalties in both halves when both Matt Rhead and Matt Green appeared to be impeded.

It was Rhead who went closest to breaking the deadlock when he hit the bar with a header early in the second half.

Crawley will be delighted with a point but they could have nicked all three with striker Panatuche Camara going close on several occasions and Jimmy Smith being denied by an excellent late save from Josh Vickers.

The headline team news for the Imps was Rhead’s return to the starting line-up alongside Green up front.

In goal, Vickers reclaimed his place after Paul Farman’s appearance in the Checkatrade Trophy tie against Everton Under-21s on Tuesday.

After his stunning brace in that game, winger Jordan Maguire-Drew kept his place, while Nathan Arnold came back into the side on the opposite flank. Sean Raggett was restored to the heart of defence as Luke Waterfall and midfielder Billy Knott dropped to the bench.

Lincoln City and Crawley Town players are joined by military personnel during a minute's silence as part of Remembrance Day commemorations (Image: Chris Vaughan/CameraSport)

After renewing their partnership, it didn’t take long for Rhead and Green to combine. In the third minute, Rhead cleverly found space and nodded down to Green, who acrobatically volleyed wide.

Soon after, a wonderful crossfield pass from Rob Dickie found Arnold, who broke into the box but volleyed over from a tight angle.

Crawley started off cautiously but will have been encouraged after getting on the end of two set-piece deliveries, although both efforts were well off target.

It was City who showed the greater urgency in the early stages and they almost took the lead from a set-piece of their own. Maguire-Draw’s corner found Raggett, who nodded the ball into the six-yard box, where Michael Bostwick headed over from almost under the bar.

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The Imps had a huge let-off midway through the half when the ball was deflected into the path of Camara, but fortunately for the hosts his tame effort was straight at a relieved Vickers.

The Cowley brothers were seething seven minutes before the break when Rhead appeared to be hauled to the floor by a Crawley defender. Referee Darren Handley not only failed to give the spot-kick but gave the visitors a free-kick, leaving the home fans incensed.

However, a couple of minutes later it was Crawley who felt hard done by when Alex Woodyard escaped with a yellow card following a poor challenge on Smith.